Practice type golf club



Feb. 14, 1950 w. REINEKING 2,497,237

PRACTICE TYPE GOLF CLUB Filed March 22, 1948 Q A 2, 20 ;k\: -127 27") LuZ 23 f /8 //I /7 M 4? T4 22 23 '24 I 3 By. 2

William Reine/ring INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRACTICE TYPE GOLFCLUB William Reineking, Melbourne, Fla. Application March 22, 1942,Serial No. 16,232

r 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-80) This invention relates to improvements intraining-type golf clubs, especially, but not necessarily, putters whichare strangely but scientifically made for those who desire to practiceand perfect an acceptably correct smooth and well-timed pendulus backstroke.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel club, the constructionof which is such that the user, by continually experimenting with it andrelying on repetitional and thoughtful effort, will eventually acquirethe knowledge and restraints necessary to mentally gage and detect bythe feel of the club, the precision and force required to establishproperly trained muscles and attending faculties essential in perfectinga timely swing which, with practiced effort, becomes movable part of therule-joint in a manner to standardized and fixed to the extent that itmay be relied upon, with confidence, to achieve a smooth and unhamperedputting stoke. U

Another object of the invention is to provide. a simple and practicaltraining club for use, particularly by beginners, which is soconstructed I and looking in the direction of the arrows,

that it enables a user to regulate conduct and initiate the backmovement or stoke in such a. way that he learns, by trial and error, tocontrol the behavior pattern of head, hands, arms and other facilitiesto the end that steadied constancy. is attained, along with adevelopment of a fixed stance, one which may be called upon, time andagain, to insure uniform and self-assured performance.

More specifically, I have evolved and produced a unique training clubwhich is characterized by a sectional shaft, the sections being hingedlyconnected together and one section carrying the conventional grip andthe other section carrying the usual head; the hinging connection beingso constructed that it enables the user to determine and select a normfrom which tocalculate the correct velocity and effort thoughtnecessary. for a properly rated and powered putting stroke.

Another object of the invention is to provide a special training club ofthe aforementioned construction whereinthe hinge connection takes theform of a reliable rule-joint which'is stiff during the forwardly movingstroke but breaks joint during the back stroke, that is, if the movementand acceleration ofv the club is ill timed, Jerky or interrupted,whereby to positively signal and ,warn the user that his club is out ofcontrol due to faulty application of force and timing? Then, too, and inaddition to the incorporated rule-joint, my improved club embodies,inside of the handle section, a precision-type spring pressed detentwhich c'o-acts with a relatively prevent the latter from folding untilit is subjected to that stage of strain for which it was set, by themanufacture, to automatically come into play.

Other obj ectsand advantages of the invention will become more readilyapparent from the following description and the accompanyingillustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a practicetype golf club, aputter, constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention, Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, with portions insection and in elevation, and on an enlarged scale, which serves todisclose with particularity the details of constituting my improven lFigure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view at right angles to Figure 2,taken on the line 3-3,

' "Figure 4 is a cross section, on a further enlarged scale, taken onthe line 4 4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.Briefly summarized and by way of introduction to the detaileddescription, a general review of the drawings will reveal a structurallydistinct training putter which is so made that it well serves to assista golfer in executing a smooth, well-timed and faultless backstroke, thesame being characterized by an upper shaft section provided 'on' itsupper end with a hand grip and provided on its lower end with spacedparallel fu'rc'ationsa lower shaft section complemental to the uppershaft section and in normal axial alignment with said upper section andprovided on its lower end with a conventional type club head and furtherprovided, on its upper end, with a centralized lug which is interposedbetween the' stated furcations and is hingedlyc'onnected with thefurcations so that it will be free to pivot, unrestricted by returnspring means, and provided on its upper, freely swingable end with asingle axially alignable keeper seat for a detent.

The latter is manually regulable, spring-projected and"mounted axiallyin the upper shaft section so that its latch-forming end projects intothe crotch between the stated furcations, the pro-, jecting end beingengaged with the stated keeper seat in a manner'to temporarily fastenand maintain the two shaft sections in normal axial alignment but alsoto, atthe same time, transfer applied force from'th'e-hand gripalongboth sections and through the medium of the detent engaging the hingedlug in a manner which is sufficient to overcome the inertia of the clubhead and so that if the magnitude of the applied force it too sudden andsevere, the inertia of said head establishes the wanted lag which issufficient to then trip and wholly release the detent, allowing thehinged portions of the shaft sections to completely break joint witheach other and at the same time to swing and stay out of alignment witheach other until the shaft sections are again closed, by hand, andaligned in order that the detent again engages itself in the keeperseat.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals andattending lead lines it will be seen that the handle equipped section ofthe shaft is denoted, as a unitby the numeral 6 and is provided with asuitable hand grip )1.

The head equipped section is denoted by the numeral 8 andembodies ashank 9 provided at its outer-end with .a golf ball striking and send-'ing head l0. Incidentally, and as before indicated, my invention issusceptibleof embodiment in all types of golf clubs such as drivers,andot'her woods and so-called irons, but is here shown as incorporatedin a practice putter.

In keeping with the principles of the invention the sections 6 and 8 aremechanically interconnected by novel hinge means, preferably arulejoint. In addition, novel detent means is embodied for coaction withsaid rule-joint. More specifically, the handle section 6 is providedwith a central axially extending bore ll whose outer end opens throughthe corresponding end of the hand grip and is threaded to accommodate atension adjusting and regulating screw i2for an expansion type coiledspring I 3 which is housed in the bore. The opposite inner endof theboreopens into a space provided by bifurcating the inner end of the shaftsection 6. The furcations l4 and have their terminal end portions beinginterconnected by-a cross-web l1 functioning as a stop shoulder. Thestop shoulder l1 reaches across therearward face .of the shaft,that is,the side which faces in the direction of the back swingand, as showninFigure 2, defines a clearance slot l8. Referring .again to the boreand spring means it will be :seen that the inner end portion of thespring [3 presses against and yieldably projects a trip-latch or plungerl9 carrying a reduced terminal portion 28 terminating in a wedge-shapeddetent 2|.

The shaftsection 8 has its inner end portion reduced andfashioned into acentrally disposed lug 22 which is shaped and proportioned to fit andoperate .between the stated furcations l 4 and I5. At this point I alsoprovide shoulders 23 which functionas abutments and coact with thestated abutments I6 on the furcations. The .rear edge of the lug isprovided with an adapter notch. 24 which seats the stop shoulder 11. Lug22 is connected by a hinge pin 25 .to said furcations l4 and !5 asbrought out in Figure 2. The free end portion of the lug has a centralV-shaped notchZ-B which provides a keeper .seat forthe correspondinglyshaped detent 2| The notched end portion of the lug is curved as shownto conform to the portions between the furcations and one half portionis cut away .to define acheckstop .21 which is also cooperable withspring pressed detent.

The coactingiurcations,lugs andstop shoulder, together with the hingepin connection between same define what may be broadly described asacommon rule-joint. Thus, the jolnt'opens or folds in but one direction.To accomplish what and smooth back stroke.

is wanted here, the hinge pin 25 is at right angles to the longitudinalaxis of the sectional shaft and is substantially parallel to the balllofting face or surface of the club head Ill.

The rule-joint is temporarily fixed and the shaft sections are held inlongitudinal alignment with each other due to the fact that the detent2!! is normally spring pressed into retentive locationin saidkeepernotch :26. However, the club, when in use, is susceptible of folding orcollapsing in the manner shown in dotted lines in vFigure 2 when it isimproperly accelerated or retarded .too rapidly, by a jerky movementwhile making an improper back swing.

- The initial tripping and release action, between the sections, comesinto play when the back swing is unmethodical, ill timed or abruptlyinterrupted. Thus, the detent 2| would be released from the keeper notch22 and the forwardly and upwardly swinging shaft section 8 would breakjointfrom the section 6 and. partially open as shown in dotted linesinFigure .2. I

.The stop 21 is .an optional feature and also coacts with the springpressed detent and pro vides a secondary signal when, during :the open:ing movement of the movable section 8, the same comes into contactwiththe detent and depresses and snaps past same in the event that theerror in the back swing is excessive. Thus, two signals are available,the primary one which comes about when the impetus given the swing ofthe club causes the detent 20 to disengage from the. keeper. seat 26 andwhen an abnormal impetus is brought, about, the secondary check stop .21engages the spring presseddetent and swings by same.

A golf club equipped with my novel rule-joint and coacting adjustabledetent means provides: in the club, a discernible signal each time the.user makes an improper sweeping stroke. .It fol lows that the user maythus detect and ascertainv the faults which arepresent in causing theclub to fold and may experiment 'by changing stance. position of thelhands,.and power of the swing to .ultimatelylearn how'to handle theback swing. in such .a way that he will eventually acquire the knacknecessary foraproperly powered and timed back swing.

.It is clear too that the joint opens under inertia and momentum forceswhen the head section takes flight ahead of the handle section. When;however, the user .manipulates the club, hands, arms and body .and otherparts harmoniously and in controlled unisonhe will soon be able tocorrect a 'jerky .and therefore .faulty back swing and will perfect asmooth properly rated back swing, once the obvious faults are detectedand corrected.

Broadly, it has been my observation that the velocity of movement of agolf club from a given. starting point (substantially at rest) to beginones back stroke is asignificantphase of a proper. putting stroke. Asudden application of forcev to the club tends to whip the head intomotion and a jerky and inconstantstroke follows, one

which throwsthe golfer off balance, out of stance, and interferes withand makes faulty the forward movement.- Therefore, itis .my theorythat'a' good beginning is imperativafor otherwise the entire swing, frombeginning .to end, is ineXpert. Consequently, a good back stroke duringwhich the club head floats from its at rest position.

behind the ball, to the top of the return stroke is to be desired. Myimproved club is made to, assist one in acquiring a properly timed,

Theoretically then, the force is applied to the powered the longitudinalreach of the shaft;- The'latch held and trippable hinge is set to carrya prede-- termined load or force, just sufiicient that the inertia ofthe head isovercome with requisite nicety and the necessary impetus is"imparted to carry said head back with the shaft. Where the magnitude andmomentum of the applied force, is erratic and not in keeping withprerequisites, the overload traversing the hinge springs the latter,permits the shaft to fold and lets the user knowthat the requirements ofa perfected swing were not met, that he should try, and try again, untilall requisite factors. are-properly c'o-ordi nated. When the pendulummotion is proper, the shaft will function as though it were of rigidone-piece construction.

Although the spring latch-retained breakable rule joint herein disclosedand described may be applicable to all types of golf clubs where sameare used for practicing and absolutely detecting errors in ones swing,it is essentially, if not almost altogether, applicable to a putterwhere the stroke must be slow, where the length of the stroke frombeginning to end and return is short, and where ones visualization ofthe club head and muscular movements and control must harm'onize withones thinking, for it is reasoned that the club head, in putting, shouldnot be rated for movement at a speed faster than the golfers ability tothink. It is significant, in connection with this invention, to keep inmind the fact that once the sections of the club break joint, as shownin dotted lines in Fig. 2, the club is momentarily or temporarilyuseless. In fact, at this stage the latch is completely disengaged fromthe keeper seat and the lower headed section 8 dangles in respect to theupper section 6. This means, therefore, that the physical impairment ofthe club at this stage positively notifies the user as to the fault andkeeps reminding him each time he repeats the fault, for it is necessary,in order to start all over, to again reset the latch. Then, too, theoblique shoulders, keeper seat, and latch and exact position of thepivot pin betwen furcations and lug must be precision-located, becausethe moment that the oblique shoulders come together, then the latchshould immediately snap into its seat.

Also, when the joint breaks, the spring and detent are momentarily outof play. This means, therefore, that no spring tension whatsoever isexerted against the headed section 8 once it is displaced to take theinoperative position shown.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction withthe invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader toobtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features ofmerit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials are rearrangement of parts maybe resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made fromthe invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A training-type back stroke perfecting putter of conventional styleand proportions comprising a shaft embodying an upper section providedon its upper end with a handle and a complemental lower section providedon its lower end with a ball striking head, said upper section havingits lower end portion bifurcated and defining spaced parallel furcationsand an intervening crotch, the tip ends' of said. furcations being.

beveled to provide'oblique abutments, a crossweb rigidly connecting saidfurcations on their rear sidesand providing a lug stop shoulder, saidlower section havinga central lug on its upper end located between saidfurcations and having beveled abutments at the lower end portion of saidlug corresponding toand bearing firmly against said first namedabutments, the rear edge portion .zof said lug beingrigidly contactablewith'said stop shoulder when the sections are in axial alignment, saidhead being at right angles to said furcations and lug, a hinge pinpiercing and joining said furcations and lug, said hinge pin beingatright angles to the longitudinal axis of the shaft sections andsubstantially parallel to the ball lofting surface of said head, theupper end portion of said lug being provided with a centrally disposednotch constituting a keeper seat, and a manually regulable projectableand retractable spring pressed detent mounted in said upper handleequipped section and projecting into the crotch and releasablyengageable with said keeper seat, said detent serving to mechanicallylatch said abutments in contact with each other and to normally holdsaid lug against said stop shoulder and, in addition, serving to permitthe lug to free itself from the spring-held detent, whereby todisconnect and render said sections inoperative until same are reset byhand.

2. A training-type back stroke practicing and perfecting putter of theclass shown and described comprises a lower shaft section having anoutstanding ball striking head at its lower end, the upper end beingreduced in cross section and defining a centrally situated upstandingextension constituting a hinging lug, and obliquely disposed stopshoulders on opposite sides of said lug, the free upper end portion ofsaid lug having a centrally situated V-shaped notch constituting akeeper seat for a detent, an upper handle equipped shaft section havinga longitudinally extending bore, a detent slidably mounted in the lowerend of the bore, a coiled spring in said bore engaging said detent, aportion of said bore being screwthreaded, an adjusting screw mounted insaid screw-threaded portion and cooperating with the adjacent end ofsaid coiled spring for regulating the tension of the spring, the lowerend of said shaft section, beyond said detent, being bifurcated anddefining furcations, said lug fitting between said furcations and thelower ends of the latter being oblique and engaging said shoulders, saidhead being at right angles to said furcations and lug, and a hinge pinpiercing said furcations and lug at right angles to the latter andsubstantially parallel to said head, said detent being retentivelyengaged in said notch when said sections are in axially aligned normalrelationship and being self and wholly released when said sectionsautomatically separate and completely break joint, at which time saidsections, except for the hinged joint, are inoperatively separated.

3. A training type back stroke practicing and perfecting putter of thetype shown and described comprising a sectional shaft, said shaftembodying an upper section provided at its upper end with a hand grip,the lower end of said upper section being provided with spaced parallelfurcations, a cross web integrally joining the furcations on their rearvertical edges and spaced from the crotch portion between the furcationsto define a lug clearance slot, a lower shaft section provided on itslower end with a ball striking head,

the upper end of said lower section having a rigid lug fitted firmlybetween the furcations, a hinge pin piercing the furcations and lug atright angles.

the furcations, a detent slidably mounted in thelower end of the boreand projecting into the crotch between said furcations, said lug havingan axially centered keeper seat for reception of said detent, a coiledspring confined wholly in said bore hearing at one end against saiddetent,

and an adjusting screw mounted in said bore and engaging the adjacentend of the spring for regulating the tension of the spring.

WILLIAM REINEKING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

} UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,529,305 Gatke Mar. 10, 19251,616,377 Knight Feb. 1, 1927 2,159,579 Whitney May 23, 1939

